A wonderful update from the City of Hyattsville!
“Hyattsville City Council passed a motion at its May 3, 2021 meeting to rename the City’s Magruder Park as David C. Driskell Community Park. This new name honors former Hyattsville resident Dr. David C. Driskell, a preeminent artist, historian, curator, and scholar of African American art. The park will be officially renamed through a Council resolution, currently being drafted for the May 17, 2021 meeting.”
David C. Driskell was an American artist, scholar and curator; recognized for his work in establishing African-American Art as a distinct field of study.
David C. Driskell Community Park
“Dr. Driskell was a respected advocate for increased visibility, inclusion, and preservation of African American art. He was a distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Maryland and his artworks are displayed in museums across the country.
Dr. Driskell passed away in April 2020 from COVID-19. Hyattsville City Council began considering a new name for the Park in 2019 after initiating a process to remove racist and exclusionary language from the original 1927 Park deed. The park was then named for William Pinkney Magruder, a former Hyattsville Mayor who donated the park land to the City. Over 800 suggestions for new names were provided by community members, including over 230 in favor of naming the park after Dr. Driskell.
Volunteers from the City’s Race and Equity Task Force and Health, Wellness, and Recreation Advisory Committees narrowed the list of suggested names to five that were presented to City Council in March of 2021. Council selected the name of David C. Driskell Community Park to both honor an exemplary resident and better reflect the park’s current use as a welcoming community center.
Inclusivity, Neighborly Care and Arts Appreciation
Hyattsville’s Interim Mayor Kevin Ward shared that, ‘renaming the park as David C. Driskell Community Park adds a new chapter to the park’s storied history, one that we believe embraces some of Hyattsville’s core values of inclusivity, neighborly care, and appreciation of the arts.’ Ward added that, ‘our Council understands removing the racist language from the deed and renaming the park is not a cure-all to address issues of race and inequity in the City, but we feel it is a step in the right direction’.”
The family of the late David C. Driskell is honored that the City of Hyattsville, MD has voted to rename our neighborhood park after our beloved Father and Grandfather.
Thank You,
Daviryne Driskell-McNeill & Daphne Driskell-Coles
BRAVO!!!! Excellent choice!
C. Harleston
(former metro D. C. resident who
knew Dr. Driscoll)
I am pleased to say that I had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Driscoll. What an excellent choice
to name the park in his honor!!!!!
Outstanding choice!!!
Bravo!!!!! Excellent choice!!!
BRAVO !!!!!!!